Weft replenishing loom



W. E. KIMMEL EI'AL WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM Feb. 19, 1957 Filed April 25, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS WILLIAM E KIMMEL CLIFFORD DARWIN ATTORNEY Feb. 19, 1957 w. E. KIMMEL ETAL WEFT REPLENISl-IING LOOM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23, 1954 INVENTORS WILLIAM E. KIMMEL CLIFFORD DARWIN ATTORNEY United States Patent C WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM William E. Kimmel, Millbury, and Clifford Darwin, Paxton, Mass., assignors to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 23, 1954, Serial No. 425,138

15 Claims. (Cl. 139-232) This invention relates to improvements in weft'replenishing looms for the weaving of a fabric one part of which is 1 x 1 pick and pick, and another part of which is 2 x 2 and has two picks of one kindalternating with two picks of another kind. Glen plaids may be mentioned as an example of the type of'fabric which can be woven on a loom made according to the present invention.

.In weaving the 1 x 1 part of the fabric two shuttles are alternately active for one pick intervals as long 'as the 1 X '1 part of the fabric is being woven. When the 2 x 2 part of the fabric is being woven the shuttles .are alternately active for two pick intervals as long as the second part is being woven.

In order to weave the 1 x 1 part of the fabric it is necessary to have shifting shuttle boxes at "both ends of the lay, and while it would not be necessary to have shitting boxes at the replenishing end of the loom if 2 x 2 :fabric only were being woven, the shuttle boxes are necessarily present during the 2 x 2 weaving because they must be present for the 1 X 1 weaving. Further, the replenishment of a depleted shuttle during 1 x 1 weaving occurs when the depleted shuttle has been raised to inactive position so that the reserve bobbin magazine is higherthan would be necessary if 2 X 2 only were being woven. Any replenishing operation which occurs when weaving 2 x 2 must take into account the fact that the magazine is in high position.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a loom which can weave automatically either 1 x 1 or 2 X 2 wherein the shuttles whether weaving 1 x 1 or 2 X 2 will be lifted to an inactive position so that they can be .replenished.

When weaving 1 x l automatic in a loom havingthe weft detector on the ma azine side a shuttle traveling toward the magazine end will enter the upper of two shuttle boxes as the lay moves forwardly and the boxes will then start the shift upwardly. As the lay reaches front center it beats up the weft which has just been left by the shuttle which is now moving out of action and the weft detector can indicated weft exhaustion and call a replenishing operation if the shuttle is depleted of weft. When the lay is approximately at top center the shuttle boxes will be fully up and another shuttle in the lower box will be picked away from the magazine end. When the lay again approaches front center the shuttle boxes will not be shifted but will re- .mainup and as the lay reaches front center for the second time it beats up the weft laid by the other shuttle and also the shuttle in the raised top box is replenished, provided replenishment was called, the depieted bobbin being pushed down through the lower box which is now empty. The shuttle box is still raised weft, will not be in active position and no shuttle will 'ice tion and will be picked away from the magazine. From the time of arrival of the depleted shuttle at the magazine end until it is again picked there will be three beatup operations the first two of which lay weft and the third of which is blank. This mode of operation gives a relatively low rate of production.

When weaving 1 x I automatically in a loom having the weft detector on the'magazine side a shuttle being replenished is out of action two successive beat-ups of the lay and cannot return to action on the pick when it ordinarily would be picked. The second of these beatups therefore does not lay a pick of weft and is" blank. The blank picks ordinarily occur every third beat of the loom so that the production is low.

In order to increase the production when weaving 1 X 1 I have proposed heretofore, as in copending application Serial No. 389,548, filed November 2, 1953, now abandoned, to operate the loom non-automatically with respect to replenishment-for part of the time and then operate it automatically for a shorter period of time. The Weaving during the non-automatic period is at the rate of li 0% production and when combined with the much lower rate of the automatic period raises production to a much higher lever, such as well over In order to operate non-automatically however it is necessary as set forth in the aforesaid application to use reserve bunches larger than usual and long enough so that a shuttle upon reaching its bunch at any point in the whole sequence of weaving 1x 1 will have a bunch sufficiently long to continue weaving until the replenishing series of picks is reached.

When the shuttles which weave the 1 x 1 also Weave the 2 x 2 type of fabric they will carry the same bunches and it is a further object of the invention to :weavethe 2 x 2 part of the fabric partly non-automaticallyand partly automatically, as the 1 x 1 part is woven, the number of picks which the loom operates non-automatically when weaving 2 x 2 being substantially the same as when weaving 1 x l nonautomatically so that the bunches of bobbins will suffice for weaving either of the two types of fabric.

When weaving 2 X 2 automatically a shuttle will enter the upper shuttle box at the magazine side and the boxes, the weft detector and the magazine will operate as .already described for l x 1 operation, but with one exception. Since this shuttle must lay the .next pick the other shuttle cannot be picked and on the second beat-up there will be no weft in the shed. When weaving 2 x 2 automatically, therefore, there will be two blank picks.

During the non-weft-laying or blank beats of the loom the weft stop motion must be prevented from stopping the loom even though weft is absent, and the take-up should preferably be arrested. Momentary disabling of the take-up mechanism may not be necessary when weaving 1 x 1, but when weaving 2 x 2.its operation should be prevented for the two lost picks occurring when the loom operate automatically. When weaving both' 1 x 1 and 2 x 2 it is desirable to control the weft stop motion and the take-up in proportion to the .number of-blank picks and it is a further object of the invention to provide controls for the weft stop motion and the take -up which will prevent operation of these devices for one pick for each shuttle during the automatic part of the sequence when weaving l x 1, and prevent their operation for two beats of the loom for each shuttle during the automatic part of the sequence when weaving 2 x 2.

Patented Feb. 19, 19 57 I Glen plaids and similar fabrics are frequently made with one or more decorative stripes of a distinctive color differing from the weft carried by either of the two shuttles already mentioned which weave the 1 x 1 or 2 x 2 part of the fabric. These decorative wefts can be carried by additional shuttles which are held idle at the nonreplenishing end of the loom and called into action at infrequent intervals when required by the pattern. In order to be able to accommodate the maximum number of decorative weft shuttles it is a further object of the invention to provide a picking mechanism operating in such manner that no dummy shuttle is needed to provide the blank picks when weaving either 1 x 1 or 2 x 2.

The weft detector at the magazine end of the loom will be preferably of the electrically indicating type and so controlled that it will be incapable of indicating weft exhaustion when the loom is moving non-automatically either 1 x 1 or 2 x 2 and will be called into action only during those times when the loom is weaving automatically 1 x 1 or 2 x 2. The controls for the detector as well as the weft stop motion and take-up and other parts of the loom related more particularly to the invention is effected by a pattern chain having bars provided with various rows of control rolls as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The pattern chain which controls the harness frames for the warp is not shown herein, but it will be understood that this chain will be built so that the harness sequence will take into account the blank picks already mentioned, if necessary.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a four stack reserve bobbin magazine for the replenishment of two shuttles, two of the stacks providing bobbins for the 1 x 1 phase of the weaving and the other two stacks supplying bobbins for the 2 x 2 phase of weaving.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example the embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a loom made according to the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the loom looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed vertical section of part of the take-up mechanism on line 33, Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a detailed vertical section on line 4-4, Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner of operating and controlling the takeup,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed vertical section on line A 6-6, Fig. 1, showing the center stop motion,

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the control chain,

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing that column of Fig. 7 which controls the color slide for the magazine,

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view taken in the same direction as Fig. 1, but showing the stack control mechanism for the magazine,

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit controlled jointly by the weft detector and the pattern chain and indicating parts of the magazine,

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing successive positions for the shuttle boxes at the two sides of the loom and shuttles for a 46 pick pattern repeat,

Fig. 12 is a view showing a bobbin and its reserve weft bunch used with the invention, and

Fig. 13 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 13, Fig. 1, showing the cam which controls parts of the weft replenishing mechanism which cooperate with the weft detector.

Referring to Fig. l, the loom frame 1 includes loomsides 2, a breast beam 3 and arches 4. The loom has a lay 5 having at the right hand end thereof a gang R6 of shifting shuttle boxes including top and bottom box cells 6 and 7, respectively, and having at the left hand end a four cell gang LG the top and second cells of which are indicated at 8 and 9, respectively. Each gang is supported on a box lifter rod 10 which is lifted by a flexible connector, the connector for the gang RG being shown at 11 and that for the gang LG being shown at 12. Each rod 10 is surrounded by a coil spring 13 through which is transmitted a lifting force from its connector to raise the corresponding boxes. The usual push down springs 14 are employed to assist in down motion of the shuttle boxes when the connectors are slackened.

The vertical position of the shuttle boxes is determined by a head motion designated generally at H, which in the present instance has two box levers 15 and 16 attached to connector 12 for gang LG, and a lever 17 for connector 11 for gang RG.

For the purpose of picking the shuttles the loom is provided with right and left hand picker sticks 20 and 21, respectively, each operated by a cam 22 on a picker shaft 23 rockable in the loom frame. The loom has a bottom shaft 24 which rotates once for every two beats of the loom and has mounted thereon picking arms 25 and 26 for actuation, respectively, of the sticks 20 and 21. Each arm is slidable on and keyed to the shaft 24, the sliding motion being effected by levers 27 and 28 for the arms 25 and 26, respectively. A rod 29 connects these levers so that they move in unison.

Each arm 25 and 26 is provided with two picking rolls 30 which can be slid into or out of register with the corresponding cam 22. As shown in Fig. 1 the arms 25 and 26 have been moved to the left so that the rolls 30 of arm 25 are out of register with the right hand cam 22 to prevent operation of the picker stick 20 while the rolls 30 of the arm 26 have been moved into register with the left hand cam 22 for operation of the picker stick 21. The reasonfor having two of the rolls 30 on each arm is that the loom is of pick and pick type and it is desirable to be able to perform two successive picking operations from the same end of the loom. Control of the position of the arms 25 and 26 is through a rod 31 extending between an arm 32 on lever 28 and a lever 33 pivoted at 34 on the loom arches. By means of the picking mechanism described the picker sticks can be operated one at a time on any beat of the loom.

The right hand end of the loom is provided with a reserve bobbin magazine M, see Fig. 9, which has four bobbin stacks 35, 36, 37 and 38. The magazine is pro vided with a stack selector 39 which is slidable horizontally into registry with the four stacks, one at a time, by a lever 40 attached to a connector 41 which extends across the loom to the head mechanism H. The magazine M also includes a transferrer arm 42, and is associated with a weft detector D which in the present instance is of the side slipping electrically indicating type. This detector or feeler rises and falls with the gang RG by reason of a rod 4-5 the lower end of which is attached to the adjacent box lifter rod 10. The detector registers with the upper shuttle box or cell 6 whether the latter be in the up position as indicated in Fig. 1 or down in alignment with the lay 5.

As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 10 the detector D includes an arm 46 swingable about a pivot 47 and having a feeler tip 43 for engagement with weft on the bobbin of the shuttle in cell 6. Ordinarily, when there is sufficient yarn on the bobbin to prevent indication by the detector as the lay approaches front center the pivoted arm 46 will be in the position shown in Fig. 10 in full lines so that the arm does not engage an electric contact 49. If, however, the main part of the weft on the bobbin being detected has been depleted the detector will then swing to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 10 to close the contact 49.

The circuit for controlling the magazine by means of the detector as shown in Fig. 10 include a source of electric power E, a wire 59 leading from the source to the detector, another wire 51 leading from contact 49 to a switch 52, a contact 53 for engagement with the switch v 52, a wire 54 leading from contact 53 to a solenoid 55 and another wire 56 leading from the solenoid back to the source. The solenoid controls .the position of a trip pin '57 for a lever 58 forming part of the magazine and controlling the rocking movements of the color selector 39 by means of rod 59. Lever 58 has a downward mo tion every beat of the loom when the lay is at or near its front center position, and when there is sutlicient weft in the shuttle being detected the detector will not rock to close contact 49, but if insufficient weft is present the detector rocks to close the circuit and cause the solenoid to move the pin 57 under the lever 58 to interrupt down- Ward motion of the latter, whereupon the magazine is set for a transferring operation which will occur on the next forward beat of the loom. The detector is subject to other controls, such as being prevented from indicating when gang RG is descending, 'not shown herein but set forth in Patent Nos. 2,333,904 and 2,360,852. It is to be understood that the weft detector shown in Fig. is only one form which can be used with the invention.

Much of the matter thus far described is of known construction and for a further understanding of certain parts already set forth reference may be made to the afoi esaid patents.

In describing the invention the parts and operation for weaving the l x 1 type of fabric will be set forth first. The shuttles B and W are provided with bobbins B1 and B2, respectively, one of which is shown in Fig. 10. The wefts of the bobbins are diverse, as black and white. The shuttles are picked alternately so that a single pick laid by one shuttle will be followed by a single pick laid by the other shuttle to produce a two-color pick and pick fabric, such as sharkskin.

The control means for certain parts of the matter already described comprises a pattern chain P shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7. This pattern chain is mounted in the usual position on the head mechanism H to effect rising and falling movements of levers over the chain. The example of chain shown includes twenty-one bars IXXI assigned to the l x l weave, the first twelve and last three of which are for non-automatic weaving, while bars XIILXVIII are for automatic weaving, see Fig. 11. In Fig. 7 the marks X represent a large roll and the small circle represent a small roll or sinker.

The left hand column a controls the position of the gang RG and the columns c and a control the gang LG.

The column d controls the lever 33 to determine which of the picking arms or 26 shall register with its cam 22, and column 1'' controls the switch 52 of the weft detector circuit. Column b controls the elevation of a lever 60 which is attached by a flexible connector 61 and a bell crank lever 62 to the connector-41 to determine the horizontal position of the color selector 39, see Fig. 9. The column 2 controls the filling fork and take-up, to be described.

In Fig, 11 the positions of the boxes are represented by Roman numerals corresponding to the bars of the chain shown in Fig. 7 also represented by Roman numerals. The first twelve positions shown in Fig. 11, I-XII and the first twelve bars I-XII of chain P, correspond to what is designated herein as the period of nonautomatic operation. During thi period the shuttles B and W follow each other on each beat of the loom so that each beat produces a pick of cloth. Thus, referring to Fig. 11, shuttle B moves to the right on the first beat, shuttle W moves to the left on the second heat, shuttle B moves to the left on the third beat, shuttle W moves to the right on the fourth beat, etc. The first twelve bars of the chain determine the positions of the shuttle boxes and also the positions of the picking arms 25 and .26 to effect the sequence or period indicated in the left hand part of Fig. 11 by the group marked Non-automatic.

During this period of non-automatic weaving it is necessary to prevent the weft detector from being able to indicate weft exhaustion and the feeler control column f will permit switch 52 to open for the twelve picks to prevent r 6 the weft detector, sh'ouldi-t slip and close contact 49 'dur ing the non-automatic period of weaving, from energizing the solenoid 55 and initiating a replenishing operation.

It is to be understood that the weft replenishing operation involves two steps, the firstbeing by the detector as shuttle box 6 rises when the lay is in the forward part of its reciprocating motion, and the second step of bobbin transfer occurring when the lay reaches its next front center position. The diagram shown in Fig. 11 indicates that shuttle W is in the top box 6 for beat I, that shuttle B is in the top box 6 for beat VI, and that shuttle Bis again in top box 6 on beat X. Since operation of the magazine cannot occur during the non-automatic period of operation there is no need for determining the position of the color selector 39 during this period and the selector can be left in register with the front stack 35 by having column I) provided with low rolls for the first twelve beats. The column e can also contain low rolls for the first twelve beats since thefilling stop motion and take-up will be operative throughout the non-automatic period.

Fig. 11 shows the six picks XIII-XVIII, marked Automatic, which correspond to the automatic period .of operation. During this period the loom operates somewhat after thersame manneras the looms shown in the aforesaid patents, that is, when the boxes are rising at the right hand end of the loom with a shuttle in box 6 the detector can indicate when the lay is at or near front center. On the next front center bobbin transfer occurs if it ha been called, this operation requiring that theshuttle box 6 be in raised position for the greater part of two successive picks. Since picking occurs approximately onequarterplckafter transfer is completed there is not time in the loom cycle to get box 6 down in alignment with the lay for picking and to take care of this condition a blank or non-pieking beat is provided to.

In Fig. 11 the positions of the boxes is assumed to be those occupied by them between the time of picking at a or about top center and boxing of the shuttle at or about bottom center, so that the boxes are shown in the position they occupy when the lay is on back center. The shift of the boxes occurs between the position indicated by the Roman numerals, and after shuttle B has entered box 6 this box will rise and the Weft detector can .indicate at the time in the sequence shown by the symbol Ind. B, before pick XIV. If indication of weft exhaustion of shuttle B has been given by the detector transfer will occur on the next forward beat at a time in the loom sequence represented by the word Trans. B, pick XIV and the upper shuttle will be replenished by a bobbin drawn from the front stack 35 due to the fact that there is a low roll on chain bar XIV in column b, to cause the selector 39 to register with the front stack 35.

The next picker stick to be actuated, loom beat XV will be stick 20, but box 7 is empty at this time so that this operation is a non-picking beat. Action of picker stick 20 at this time is determined by the column d which for beat XV has a low roll causing the arms 25 and 26 to be moved to the right from the position shown in Fig. 1.

Replenishment of shuttle W can occur in a similar operation, the detector indicating between the positions XVII and XVIII and transfer occurring on the front center following position XVIII. When shuttle W reaches box 6 there is no shuttle in box 7 and the dead pick can occur on pick XVIII, one pick earlier than it did with respect to shuttle B, the picker stick 20 again having an idle non-picking position after replenishment of shuttle W. Three 1 x 1 picks then follow to get the shuttles in the position shown at pick XXI. It is assumed that at this point decorative weft shuttle R will be active for two picks.

The chain then starts 2 x 2 weaving picks XXIV- XXXV being non-automatic as marked in Fig. '11. Shut tlo B will lay two successive picks, XXIV and )QCV, shuttle W two picks, XXVI and XXVII, etc.

At the end of the non-automatic period of operation for 2 x 2 weaving an automatic period will follow beginning with pick XXXVI and extending through pick XLIII. Since the magazine must be in high position because of the shifting of gang RG in the 1 x 1 weaving it will also of course be in high position for weaving 2 x 2 and in order to get the shuttles B and W in position for replenishment in 2 x 2 weaving the gang RG will be raised once for shuttle B and again for shuttle W. Beginning with pick XXXVI, shuttle B will move toward box 6 and the bar of the chain corresponding to pick XXXVII will cause lifting of gang RG when the lay is in the forward part of its stroke so that the detector can give indication if needed. Under the condition of 2 x 2 weaving however there will be no shuttle in box 7 and pick XXXVII will be a dead pick, whereas under 1 x 1 operation the corresponding pick would have been a live pick. The dead pick occurring on pick XXXVIII is the same as that occurring for instance on pick XV for the 1 x 1 operation. After replenishment gang RG can again drop to place box 6 in active position and the shuttle B can lay the second (pick XXXIX) of the two successive picks which it must lay. There will therefore be two dead picks when the loom is operating automatic 2 X 2 for shuttle B, and similarly there will be two dead picks when shuttle W is active.

During the non-automatic 2 x 2 weaving the gang RG is kept down and the bars on the chain corresponding to picks XXIV-XXXV will have low rolls in column e, thereby permitting switch 52 to remain open. During the automatic 2 x 2 weaving the bars on the chain corresponding to picks XXXVII and XXXVIII will have high rolls in column e to eifect closure of switch 52, and similarly there will be two high rolls in column for picks XLI and XLII.

The bars corresponding to the 1 x 1 weaving automatic will have rolls in column b of the smallest and next smallest size to register the selector 39 with stacks 35 and 36, respectively, but during the 2 x 2 automatic weaving the rolls in column b will be of next to the largestand the largest size to register the selector with stacks 37 and 38. Thus, chain bar XVI will have the smallest size roll in column b, bar XVII will have the next larger size roll 65, bar XXXVI will have next to the largest size roll 66, and bar XL will have the largest size roll 67 in column b. In this way the full capacity of the magazine can be utilized, half of the bobbins being available for replenishment occurring during 1 x 1 weaving, and the other half during 2 x 2 weaving.

In the particular pattern set forth herein it is assumed that upon completion of the automatic 2 x 2 weaving a second decorative stripe will be laid by a. shuttle G on picks XLIV and XLV. The use of the decorative weft shuttles is possible because no dummy shuttle is utilized for the dead picks, due to the sliding pick arrangement, and the decorative shuttles will normally be in their home boxes in the lower part of gang LG when not active. Since these shuttles with decorative weft are used comparatively infrequently in the pattern no provision is being made for their automatic replenishment, but if such replenishment should be desired then the stacks 37 and 38 of the magazine could be reserved for them and appropriate changes made in the pattern chain to control the color slide 39 in known manner. These decorative wefts are usually present as two successive picks and if their replenishment is required they would be treated in the same manner as are shuttles B and W in the automatic part of the 2 x 2 weaving. 1 a

The last pick XLVI, Fig. 11, represents a return to the 1 x l non-automatic in which shuttle W is active, and bar I begins another period of 1 x 1 weaving in which shuttle B will follow shuttle W.

Since in the weaving of either the 1 x 1 or 2 x 2 type of fabric depletion of weft could occur at the beginning of a non-automatic period of weaving it is necessary to provide the bobbins for shuttles B and W with bunches sufiiciently long so that if the bunchesshould be reached at the beginning of a non-automatic period they will be long enough to permit continued weaving until the shuttles can be replenished in an automatic period of Weaving. In order that the same size of bunch may suflice for weaving both 1 x 1 and 2 x 2 it is desirable that the number of picks assigned to non-automatic weaving when weaving either 1 x 1 or 2 x 2 be the same. In Fig. 12 one of the bobbins with an enlarged bunch 68 is shown, this bunch when the particular Weave set forth herein is being used providing six extra picks, since bobbin B for instance will be active for six picks during a non-automatic phase of weaving, and two additional picks to provide for the activity of the shuttles after they reach the automatic phase of weaving. These eight picks will be additional to the usual picks provided for ordinary weft replenishing operations.

During the operation of blank picks occurring it is necessary to prevent operation of the center filling stop motion and it is also desirable to prevent operation of the take-up mechanism. In some prior instances prevention of operation of the filling stop motion has been used, but not so far as is known in a loom Where this prevention may be necessary for only one pick when weaving 1 x 1, or for two successive picks when weaving 2 x 2.

The filling stop motion is shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 6 and employs the usual lay carried weft fork 75 and dagger 76 which moves down a stationary cam 77 as the lay moves forwardly, or to the right in Fig. 6. The stop motion has a C-shaped knockoff lever 78 which will ordinarily be missed by the dagger 76 if weft is present to support the fork, but if weft is absent the dagger will strike the lever 78 and through known mehcanism rock shaft 79 to stop the loom. Stop motions of this type are ordinarily provided with a shield 80 which however is lifted to shielding position only when the loom is stopped.

The parts of the stop motion shown in Fig. 6 thus far described may be of common construction. The parts added to it provide an additional shield which will come into action during continuous loom operation to prevent the dagger 76 from striking lever 78 when there is no weft in the warp shed due to a blank pick. The additional shield 81 is pivoted at 82 on a fixed stand 83 forming part of the usual stop motion and has an arm 84 connected to a spring 85 which normally tends to move the shield 81 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6. Arm 84 is attached to a connector 86 provided with a turnbuckle 87 and extending downwardly as suggested in Fig. 1. The lower part 88 of the connector 86 below the turnbuckle may be the core of a push-pull cable 89 the shield 90 of which is supported as suggested in Fig. 2. The core 88 is attached to a lever 91 in head H which extends over the column 2 of the control chain.

Throughout the weaving of the non-automatic phases lever 91 will be down with a low roll under it and this will also be true for those picks of the loom in the automatic phases when shuttles are active to lay a weft, and under these conditions the shield will be as shown in Fig. 6, that is, below shielding position with respect to the upper end of lever 78. On those picks of the loom, however, which are blank with respect to laying of weft column e will have a high roll to lift lever 91 and rock the shield in a clockwise direction, Fig. 6, so that as the dagger moves down along cam 77 it will be held up by shield 81 above lever 78. This operation will occur once for each shuttle during automatic 1 x l weaving, and twice for each shuttle during automatic 2 X 2 weaving. After the need for shielding the dagger on these dead picks is past a low roll will again appear under lever 91 .The control for the take-up is also derived from lever 91 which is attached to a downwardly extending rod 95 attached to a flexible connector 96, see Fig. 2. The latter is attached to an armfii' secured to a small shaft 98 suitably journaled and having secured thereto a second arm 99 which supports a flanged roll 104) at its lower end.

The pawl 191 for actuating the take-up is secured to a rod supported by the roll 1%, see Fig. 3, and during picks of the loom when weft is laid the roll 16%) will be in the position shown in Fig. 4, thus enabling the pawl 101 when having a working stroke to the left, Fig. 4, to turn the ratchet wheel 103. When, however, a dead pick occurs in the operation lever 91 will rise and cause flexible connector 96 to rock the shaft 98 in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5, thereby lifting the pawl so that its working stroke will be idle. The usual hold pawl 104 will serve to hold the ratchet wheel 103 under these conditions as well as undernormal conditions of operation. The pawl will be held up for one pick during the 1 x 1 automatic operation for each shuttle and will be held up for two successive picks for each shuttle during the automatic 2 x 2 operation.

The pawl can be given its active or working stroke in any approved manner, as by an eccentric 105 on the top or crank shaft 106 of the loom.

While Fig. 11 shows a particular sequence for illustrative purposes the invention is not limited to that sequence, since longer periods of non-automatic weaving can be utilized, if desired, with a corresponding increase in the size of bunch. Furthermore, the decorative weft such as that laid by shuttles R or G need not necessarily occur in the locations indicated in Fig. 11. Also, if it is desired to have the 1 x 1 and 2 x 2 bands across the 1" abric of greater width than contemplated in Fig. 11 the control chain can be made longer so that for instance the first twenty-one picks can be repeated, as can also the picks devoted to the weaving of 2 X 2.

In order that a weft replenishing operation maybe initiated on any pick of the loom, Whether odd or even, it is desirable to use a cam for the control of lever 58 which will give the latter a complete cycle of motion each pick of the loom. Such a cam is shown in Fig. 13 at 110, the cam is fastened to the bottom shaft 24 of the loom which ordinarily makes a rotation every two beats of the loom and the cam is symmetrical about any diameter thereof as will be apparent from Fig. 13. The earn has a low area 112 which is operative by known connections to give a down motion to rod 113 connected to lever 58 when the lay is at or near front center posi tion. The cam also has a high point 114 which comes into action to lift rod 113 immediately after it has been depressed so that red 59 can be given an up motion each beat of the loom. The cam also has an intermediate dwell 115 during which the lever 58 is held stationary to permit longitudinal motion of the selector 39.

In Fig. 13 the cam has parts 112', 114' and dwell 115' corresponding, respectively, to the parts 112, 114 and 115 already described but displaced from these parts by 180". By the use of this cam a replenishing operation can be initiated on any beat of the loom when the weft being detected is being depleted and switch 52 is closed. This cam is somewhat different from the cam contemplated in the patents already mentioned hereinbefore and in addition to being able to perform the functions of known two-pick cams which ordinarily can initiate a replenishing operation only every other heat of the loom it also permits initiation every beat.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets forth a loom capable in a continuous operation of weaving 1 X 1 and 2 x 2 types of weave successively by two shuttles both of which can be replenished when producing either type of weave. The full capacity of a fourstack magazine can be utilized by assigning the bobbins .sirable to have the repeats ofthe pattern not essential, since the invention is not limited to the proof onepair of stacks for replen ing 1 x1 weaving and the other plenishments occurring during 2 x 2 produce the 1 X l and 2 X 2 weaves control number of weft threads and that each shuttle la stantially the same number of threads, although this duction of Glen plaids. It will-further be seen that the picking means is controliedso that there will be one blank beat for replenishments occurring when weaving 1 X l and double blankbeats for replenishments occurring during the Weaving of 2 X 2, and that the filling stop motion, whichwould otherwisestop the loom due to weft absence, is prevented from stopping the loom when either the single or the double blank beats occur. The take-up also is inactive either for one or two beats for each replenishing operation, depending upon the type of weaving being produced, and the control for the filling stop motion and take-up is derived from thesame part of the control chain. The weft detector is controlled by the pattern chain in such manner as to prevent operation of the weft replenishing mechanism during the larger part of the weaving both of 1 X 1 and 2 X 2, but becomes operative to cause replenishment in the event of weft exhaustion during the smaller part ofthe weaving of the two types of fabric. The shuttle gang RG moves each of the shuttles from an active picking positiontoa transfer position in the pro duction of both types of weaves, the greater part of the weaving of the 2 x ,2 type of fabric being accomplished, however, with the shuttle inactive position when at the magazine end and theshuttles being moved to transfer position only at intervais during 2 X 2 weaving. The reserve bunches on the bobbins, whether weaving i x l or 2 x 2, will be of substantially the same length and capable of providing a sutficient length of weft to permit continued weaving during .the non-automatic part of the sequences andfarenough into the automatic part of the sequence to permit replenishment of either shuttle. Fur. thermore, the cam is of the oneapick type in that it gives the lever 58 a complete cycle of movements each beat of the loom. This lever may be considered as a setting means having a motion in one direction which, on indic tion of weft exhaustion by the detector, initiates setting of the replenishing mechanism for a replenishing operation, and then hasanother movement in the opposite direction which completes the setting of the replenishing mechanism. The detector cam therefore permits replenishing operations to be initiated either on even or odd beats of the loom.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. In a loom having two shuttles for weaving a fabric part of which is l x 1 and another part of which is 2 X 2, a reserve bobbin magazine having four stacks of reserve bobbins, one pair of stacks having bobbins corresponding to one of the shuttles and the other pair of stacks having bobbins corresponding to the other shuttle, means causing weft replenishing operations with respect to both shuttles when both the 1 X 1 and 2 X 2 parts of the fabric are being woven, and selector means drawing bobbins from one of said pairs of stacks for the replenishing operations occurring during the weaving of the l x 1 part of the fabric and from the other pair of stacks for replenishing operations occurring during the weaving of the 2 x 2 part of the fabric.

2. The loom set forth in claim 1 wherein the loom provided with a pattern chain having one part to controi l X 1 weaving and another part to control 2 x 2 weaving and wherein said parts of the chain are of substantially the same length.

3. The loom set forth in claim 1 wherein the loom is provided with a pattern chain controlling the operation of the loom for the weaving of both the 1 X 1 and 2 X 2 i 11' me chain causes the .au tantially an equal number "1 part is being woven and active qual number of times when the 2 x 2 aven- ,om having two shuttles for Weaving a fabric i hich is l x 1 and another part of which is 2 x 2, icking means for the shuttles, means capable of replenishing the weft in either shuttle whether weaving 1 x 1 or 2 x 2, control mechanism for the picking means causing the latter to elfect a single blank non-shuttle picking beat of the loom for each replenishment of a shuttle occurring during 1 x l weaving and effect double blank beats for each replenishment occurring during 2 x 2 weaving, and means preventing loom stoppage due to weft absence whether a single or double blank beats occur.

5. The loom set forth in claim 4 provided with takeup means controlled by the control mechanism to be ineffective to operate on the single blank beats and for each of the double blank beats.

6. The loom set forth in claim 5 wherein the control mechanism includes a control chain and the same part of the chain controls the means to prevent loom stoppage and also the take-up.

7. In a loom having two shuttles for weaving a fabric having two types of weave one of which is 1 x 1 two color pick and pick and the other of which is 2 x 2 and has pairs of picks of one of said colors alternating with pairs of picks of the other color, weft detector mechanism for indicating exhaustion of weft in said shuttles, weft replenishing mechanism controlled by the weft detector effective when the latter indicates weft exhaustion in either shuttle to replenish the shuttle, control means for the weft detector capable of preventing operation or causing operation thereof upon exhaustion of weft in either shuttle, and a pattern chain controlling the control means causing the latter during the weaving of either of said types of weave to prevent operation of the detector for a certain period of a given number of flights of both shuttles and said pattern chain thereupon causing the control means during another period of operation to enable the detector to indicate weft exhaustion in either shuttle.

8. In a loom having shuttles for weaving a fabric part of which is two color pick and pick and another part of which has pairs of picks of one of said colors alternating with pairs of picks of the other color, shuttle picking mechanism capable on any beat of the loom of being either effective or ineffective to pick a shuttle, weft replenishing mechanism to replenish weft in either of said shuttles, shifting shuttle boxes at the replenishing end of the loom capable of moving a shuttle therein to replenishing position, control means for the replenishing mechanism capable of preventing operation of the latter or causing operation thereof upon exhaustion of weft in either shuttle, and a pattern chain controlling the picking mechanism and shuttle boxes and control means causing the latter during the weaving of either of said parts of the fabric to prevent operation of the replenishing mechanism for certain periods of operation and said pattern chain during other periods of operation for weaving either of said parts of the fabric effective to cause the shuttle boxes to move each shuttle to replenishing position and causing the picking mechanism to fail to pick a shuttle for one heat of the loom for each shuttle during said other periods of operation when the first part of said fabric is being woven and causing the picking mechanism to fail to pick a shuttle for two successive beats of the loom for each shuttle during said other periods of operation when said other part of the fabric is being woven.

9. In a loom having shuttles for weaving a fabric one part of which is two color pick and pick and another part of which has a pair of picks of one of said colors alternating with a pair of picks of the other color, means causing said shuttles to be active for substantially the same number of beats of the loom when weaving said two parts of the fabric, replenishing means capable of effecting replenishment of weft in either shuttle during a portion only of the Weaving of each of said parts of the fabric, said replenishing means being incapable of effecting replenishment of the shuttles during the weaving of the remainder of each of said parts of the fabric, and bunches of reserve weft in each shuttle of sufficient length to supply weft for weaving from one of said portions to the next portion whether the shuttles are weaving either said one r said other part of the fabric.

10. in a loom having shuttles for weaving a fabric one part of which is two color pick and pick and another part of which has a pair of picks of one of said colors alternating with a pair of picks of the other color, means causing said shuttles to be active for substantially the same number of beats of the loom when Weaving said two parts of the fabric, replenishing means capable of effecting replenishment of weft in either shuttle during a portion only of the weaving of each of said parts of the fabric, said replenishing means being incapable of effecting replenishment of the shuttles during the weaving of the remainder of each of said parts of the fabric, and bunches of reserve weft in each shuttle of suflicient length to supply weft for Weaving said remainder of each part of the fabric whether the shuttles are weaving said one or said other part of the fabric.

11. In a loom provided with weft replenishing means and having a shifting shuttle box movable from a low position upwardly to a transfer position under said means, a weft detector to detect the condition of weft in the shuttle box on either odd or even beats of the loom when the box moves to transfer position, setting means for the replenishing means having a movement in one direction followed by a movement in the opposite direction each beat of the loom and effective when having the first of said movements in the event the detector indicates exhaustion of weft in the shuttle box when the latter moves to trans fer position to initiate setting of the replenishing means for a replenishing operation and effective on the next succeeding movement thereof in said opposite direction to complete setting of the replenishing means for a replenishing operation.

12. The loom set forth in claim 11 in which the setting means includes a cam rotating every second heat of the loom and having opposite low areas and opposite high areas.

13. In a loom having two shuttles for weaving a fabric having two types of weave one of which is 1 x 1 two color pick and pick and the other of which is 2 x 2 and has pairs of picks of one of said colors alternating with pairs of picks of the other color, weft replenishing means to replenish Weft in each of said shuttles, shuttle boxes having upper and lower cells for said shuttles shiftable toward said replenishing means to place the upper cell in transfer position, control means for the shuttle boxes causing the latter to move the upper cell at least every second heat of the loom to transfer position during 1 x l weaving, said control means also effective during 2 x 2 weaving to cause the shuttle boxes to be in the same position for two successive flights of the same shuttle during the greater part of the 2 x 2 weaving and effective during the lesser part of the 2 x 2 weaving to move said upper cell to transfer position for a replenishing operation by the replenishing means and then move said upper cell to low position between successive flights of a shuttle, and picking means cooperating with the shuttle boxes and control means to cause each of said shuttles to be in the upper cell and in transfer position at least once during both 1 x 1 and 2 x 2 weaving.

14. In a loom operating with two shuttles having different wefts to weave l x l for a period of operation followed by another period of 2 x 2 operation in which the shuttles are active alternatively for successive pairs of picks of the loom and in which one shuttle after being active for one pair of successive picks is followed by the other shuttle which'is active for another pair of sucvessive picks, shuttle boxes at both ends of the loom, repleniihing means at one end of the loom having reserve wefts corresponding to said shuttles to replenish the weft in each shuttle, control means to cause, the shuttle boxes at said one end of the loom to move each shuttle from active picking position in each of said periods to a transfer position, and means to cause the replenishing means to replenish the weft in either shuttle when the latter is depleted of weft and is in transfer position with weft corresponding thereto whether the loom is weaving 1 x 1 in the first named period or weaving 2 X 2 in the other period.

15. The loom set forth in claim 14 wherein the control means causes the shuttle boxes at said one end of the loom to move a shuttle therein to transfer position during part only of the weaving of 2 x 2 and causes said boxes to maintain the shuttle in active position when at said one side of the loom for the remainder of the 2 x 2 weaving.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,391,602 Turner Dec. 25, 1945 2,609,844 Turner Sept. 9, 1952 2,609,845 Turner Sept. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 558,967 Great Britain Jan. 28, 1944 

